Apparatus fob treating nuts



June 30, 1936. J KQHLER APPARATUS FOR TREATING NUTS Original Filed Dec. 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR MIC/MEL J KOHLEE H/J ATTORNEY June 30, 1936. M. J. KOHLER APPARATUS FOR TREATING NUTS Original Filed Dec. 2, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR M/CHHEL J'- KOHLEE BYQTM HA5 ATTORNEY Reiscued June 30, 1936 UNITED STATES- APPARATUS FOR TREATING NUTS I Michael J. Kohler, New York, N. Y., assignor to National Nut Company of California, a corporation of California Original No. 1,958,499, dated May 15, 1934, Serial No. 645,492, December 2, 1932. Application for reissue January 15, 1936, Serial No. 59,319

ilClaims.

This invention relates to an apparatus which is specially adapted to the heating and buttering of mixed nuts, and coincidently forms a dispensing device for the nuts. Among the objects of the invention is to provide a machine inwhich mixed nutsare heated to a predetermined temperature and coated with butter, and retained ina heated condition for sale in such condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the type outlined which will coincidently heat an agitate a batch of nuts in such manner as to cause butter to completely coat the nuts. Y

A further object of the invention is to provide a housing for the machine equipped with a display front in which nuts may be attractively displayed, the front of the machine being provided with a transparent panel andv a compartment for the nuts.

A still further object of the invention is to specification and in which similar reference characters are used to designate similar parts throughout the several views of which:

'30 Fig. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

35 Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of the front wall of the housing.

I Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the container removed so as to disclose the spider and the heating unit.

40 Fig. 6 is a section taken onthe line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a housing having a rear wall l9, end walls II and atop l2; the front wall comprising 45 a panel of glass or other transparent material l3, and having a wall l4 spaced therefrom to provide a compartment IS, the glass l3 being retained in position by a removable angle bracket it which coincidently forms a closure for the 50 bottom of the compartment. The housing is mounted on a base I] which has integral legs l9, thus permitting the circulation of heat and air through the device.

l The top of the cabinet is provided with a series 55 ofcircular holes l3, 'aligneii with the center of each of which a shaft 29 is rotatably mounted in a verticalposition, suitable bearings 2| and 22 being provided,the bearings being supported by a suitable framing 23. The shafts 29 are coincidently driven through sprockets 24 and coop- 5 erating chain 25, so that all of the containers will be r 29 is provi crates with aa vorm 21, the worm 21 being mounted to cooperate with the shaft of the motor 26. 10

Fixedly supported on the framing 23 is a heating unit comprising a heat-reflector 29 having a concave facejiirected upwardly. Electrical heating elements 39 and 3i are mounted on the upper side of said reflector, these heating elements be- 16 ing connected at one end to a. common terminal 32, the other end of the elements having individual terminals 33 and 34 whereby the heating unit may be controlled as to temperature, fourway switches 35 being provided for each unit, 20 these switches being adapted to connect the terminals 33 and 34 so as to connect the elements 39 and 3| in parallel for one heat, the terminal 32 forming-the other connection to the source of electric power, this switch also being adapted to. break circuit to the terminal 32 and connect the i" terminals 33 and 34 to the opposite terminals of the source of electricity so as to connect the two elements in series, the switch being also adapted to connect either one of the terminals 33 or 34 through the terminal 32 svas to energize only one of the elements. I

The shaft 29 is arranged axially with respect to the heating unit as clearly shown; andhas secured at the top thereof a spider 48, this spider 35 having a plurality of' arms 36 and a rim 3land being rotatable with the shaft 29.

The container s 38 are cylindrical in form and have a flat bo tom 33, centering means 49 being provided to center the container on the spider 40 48. Drivingk ynieans for the container comprises a dependi "/l'itg 4| formed on the bottom of'the container 38f and which cooperates with one of the arms 36 of the spider .48, the container being supported on the spider and driven thereby.

The scraper comprises ar arm 42 of non-circular form, and slidably disposed in acomplementary socket 43 secured to the top of the housing l2, that shown in the drawings comprising an arm of rectangular form and fitting into a rectangular aperture 44, this arm extending upwardly to a point-above the top of the container and thence extending diagonally downward and terminating in. a removable blade 45, which cooperates with the bottom 39 of the container 38. 5.

Removably mounted at the center of each container is a flag-stall 46 at the top of which is secured a rigid flag ll, on which is imprinted the name of the' product treated by and dispensed from the machine, this flag-stall and flag rotating with the contalner.

The operation of the device is as follows:-

The switches 35 are turned to the desired heat, high, medium, or low, and the motor 28 is cut into circuit. The motor 28 drives shaft Ill through the worm 21 and worm gear 28, driving the other shafts 2| through the sprockets 2| and chains 25. A batch of nuts is put into the containers and butter added thereto, the rotation of the containers in cooperation with the fixed scrapers, causing complete agitation and mixing of the nuts and complete coating with a very thin film of butter. After the nuts have been completely processed, the switches 35 may be turned to low heat and the nuts kept hot until such time as they are presented for sale.

It will be noted that this device forms coincidently a machine for heating nuts with or without oil or other coating material, forms a device for keeping the nutsin heated condition, and also coincidently forms an advertising and display device, the rotation of the flags 41 attracting attention to the device, and the nuts in the compartment I5 forming an attractive display.

Having described an operative device, it will be understood that variations in construction and arrangement of parts which are consistent with the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

I claim:

1. A nut buttering machine, comprising a housing having a circular opening in its top wall, a frame in said housing, a heating element mounted upon said frame below said opening, a powerdriven shaft vertically mounted centrally of said opening in bearings provided in said housing and frame, a rotatable spider concentric with and below said opening rotatable through said shaft, and a container set within said opening and supported by said spider to be rotated therewith.

2. A nut buttering machine, comprising a housing having a circular opening in its top wall, a frame in said housing, a heating element rigidly mounted upon said frame consisting of a concave heat reflector concentric with said opening, and a plurality of electrical heat-emitting wires arranged above said reflector and within the concavity thereof, a power-driven shaft disposed vertically and centrally of said opening, and a nut container disposed within said opening and rotatable through said shaft.

3. A nut butteringmachine, comprising a housing having a circular opening in its top wall,- a frame in said housing, a reflector mounted upon said frame concentric with said opening, a heating element disposed above said reflector, a power-driven shaft mounted vertically and centrally of said opening, a rotatable spider concentric with and below said opening rotatable through said shaft, and a container set within said opening and supported by said spider to be rotated therewith.

4. A nut buttering machine, comprising a housing having a circular opening in its top wall, a frame in said housing, a heating element consisting of a pair of electrical heat-emitting wires arranged in circular relation, electrical connections for utilizing said wires separately, in series, or in parallel circuits, a heat-reflector below said wires, a power-driven shaft arranged vertically and centrally of said opening and a nut container disposed within said opening and rotatable through said shaft.

5. A nut treating machine comprising a base housing, a nut receptacle mounted upon the housing, means within the housing below the receptacle for heating nuts contained in the receptacle, and means for rotating the receptacle. 6. A nut treating machine comprising a base housing, a nut receptacle mounted upon the housing and having an open top for giving access to nuts contained in the receptacle, a heating element spaced from the receptacle, means for directing heat from the element onto the receptacle, and means within the housing for rotating the receptacle. 7

'7. A nut treating machine'comprising a base housing, a nut receptacle mounted upon the housing, means within the housing below the 20 receptacle for heating nuts contained in the receptacle, means for rotating the receptacle, and means for varying the heat characteristics of the heating means.

8. A nut treating machine comprising a' base 25 housing, a nut receptacle mounted upon the housing and having an open top for giving access to nuts contained in the receptacle, a heat- 'ing element spaced from the receptacle. means for directing heat from the element onto the 3 receptacle, means within the housing for rotating the receptacle, and means for varying the heat characteristics of the heating element.

9. A nut treating machine comprising a base housing, nut receiving means rotatablymounted 35 upon the housing and comprising a plurality of receptacles for separably containing different varieties of nuts, means for simultaneously rotating the nut receiving means, and means'spaced fro the receptacles for heating the nuts.

10. A nut treating machine comprising .a base housing, nut receiving means upon the base and open at the top thereof to give access to nuts contained therein, stationary heating means mounted upon the housing in spaced relation to 45 the nut receiving means, and means for rotating the nut receiving means relative to the heating means.

11. A nut treating machine comprising a base housing, nut receiving means rotatably molmted 50 upon the housing and comprising a plurality of receptacles for containing diflerent varieties of nuts, the tops of the receptacles being open to give access to nuts contained therein while the machine is in operation, heating means'mounted 55 upon the housing in spaced relation to the nut receiving means, and means for simultaneously rotating the nut receiving means relative to the heating means.

12. A nut treating machine comprising a base housing having an apertured top, a motor within the housing, a shaft driven by the motor, a nut receptacle arranged within the aperture and driven by the shaft, the top of the receptacle being open for permitting the introduction and repermitting the introduction and removal of nuts while the machine is in operation, and a heating 16 element mounted upon the housing in spaced relation to the. receptacle.

14. A nut treating machine comprising a base housing, a motor within the housing, a shaft driven by the motor, a nut receptacle driven by the shaft, the top oi the receptacle being open for permitting the introduction and removal of nuts while the receptacle is being rotated, a heating element mounted upon the housing in spaced relation to the receptacle and means for varying the degree of heat applied to the nuts.

15. A nut treating machine comprising a base housing, a motor within the housing, a shaft driven by the motor, a nut receptacle supported upon the shaft and rotatable therewith, the top 0! the receptacle being open for permitting the introduction and removal or nuts while the receptacle is being rotated, a heating element mounted uopn the housing independently of the receptacle, and a reflector spaced from the recep- 17. A nut treating machine comprising a basehousing, a nut receptacle mounted upon the housing, a heating element upon the housing spaced 'i'rom the receptacle, means for directing heat from the-heating element into the receptacle, and means within the housing for rotating the receptacle.

MICHAEL J. KOHLER. 

